Pickens, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Pickens, formerly called Pickens Courthouse, is a city in Pickens County, South Carolina
, United States
. The population was 3,012 at the 2000 census, at which time it was listed as a town; the change to a city was made in 1998, but not reported to the Census Bureau until 2001. It is the county seat
of Pickens County. It was named after Andrew Pickens
(1739–1817), an American revolutionary soldier and US Congressman for South Carolina.
Pickens is part of the Greenville
–Mauldin
–Easley
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town had a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.4 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.81%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,012 people, 1,281 households, and 794 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,227.1 people per square mile (474.7/km²). There were 1,438 housing units at an average density of 585.8 per square mile (226.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 80.54% White, 16.80% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 1.06% from other races
, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population.
There were 1,281 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples
living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,364, and the median income for a family was $36,316. Males had a median income of $27,316 versus $19,706 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,436. About 12.7% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under age 18 and 22.5% of those age 65 or over.
(January 24, 1957), who was a recording star in the late 1960s and early 1970s. On the strength of his record sales, he made numerous national TV appearances, including on Arthur Godfrey
radio show, The Merv Griffin Show
, The Mike Douglas Show
(which he co-hosted for a week), The Ed Sullivan Show
, The Tonight Show
, and The Kraft Music Hall; he also performed in Las Vegas and did concerts around the U.S. Bryant, who still lives in Pickens, continues to write and record music. He is the only progeny of Maude and Ray Bryant.
Former NFL player and Appalachian State graduate, Harold Alexander is from Pickens. During Alexander's time at Appalachian State he set several NCAA punting records. Alexander was drafted 67th overall in the 1993 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons. After playing two seasons with the Falcons, Alexander moved on to the Detroit Lions before ending his NFL career. Alexander currently lives in Pickens with his wife and children.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,012 at the 2000 census, at which time it was listed as a town; the change to a city was made in 1998, but not reported to the Census Bureau until 2001. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Pickens County. It was named after Andrew Pickens
Andrew Pickens (congressman)
Andrew Pickens was a militia leader in the American Revolution and a member of the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina.-Early life:...
(1739–1817), an American revolutionary soldier and US Congressman for South Carolina.
Pickens is part of the Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
–Mauldin
Mauldin, South Carolina
Mauldin is a city in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 15,224 at the 2000 census. It is a principal city of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
–Easley
Easley, South Carolina
Easley is a city in Pickens County in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is a principal city of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area. Most of the city lies in Pickens County, with only a very small portion of the city in Anderson County...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Greenville-Mauldin-Easley metropolitan area
The Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget and used by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purpose only, is an area consisting of three counties in Upstate South Carolina, anchored mainly by...
.
Geography
Pickens is located at 34°52′54"N 82°42′27"W (34.881700, -82.707477).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town had a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.4 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.81%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,012 people, 1,281 households, and 794 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,227.1 people per square mile (474.7/km²). There were 1,438 housing units at an average density of 585.8 per square mile (226.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 80.54% White, 16.80% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 1.06% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population.
There were 1,281 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,364, and the median income for a family was $36,316. Males had a median income of $27,316 versus $19,706 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $16,436. About 12.7% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under age 18 and 22.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people from Pickens
The most famous person from Pickens is Browning BryantBrowning Bryant
John Baxter Browning Bryant is an American singer-songwriter, whose greatest commercial popularity was before and during his early teens....
(January 24, 1957), who was a recording star in the late 1960s and early 1970s. On the strength of his record sales, he made numerous national TV appearances, including on Arthur Godfrey
Arthur Godfrey
Arthur Morton Godfrey was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer who was sometimes introduced by his nickname, The Old Redhead...
radio show, The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, September 20, 1965 to September 26, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS and again in...
, The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that aired in syndication from 1961 to 1982, distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations.The program featured light banter with...
(which he co-hosted for a week), The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
, The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
, and The Kraft Music Hall; he also performed in Las Vegas and did concerts around the U.S. Bryant, who still lives in Pickens, continues to write and record music. He is the only progeny of Maude and Ray Bryant.
Former NFL player and Appalachian State graduate, Harold Alexander is from Pickens. During Alexander's time at Appalachian State he set several NCAA punting records. Alexander was drafted 67th overall in the 1993 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons. After playing two seasons with the Falcons, Alexander moved on to the Detroit Lions before ending his NFL career. Alexander currently lives in Pickens with his wife and children.